*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "EuroFora" just after new EU Commission President Juncker's 315 Billions 2015-2017 Investments Plan was presented at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, (Comp. f.ex. : ....), the experienced European Investments Bank (EIB) Head, former EU Affairs Minister, Werner Hoyer from Germany, confirmed that Cyprus-Greece-Egypt-Israel plans to transport Directly Gas Findings' Energy towards the EU correspond well to the kind of attractive, Strategic Projects for Growth which are in EU's Interest and could be Funded by that New Mega-Investments Plan of the EU in the imediately forthcoming Years, and announced his intention to Visit anew the Island on December 2014.

- "You spoke about "Attractive" Projects, particularly about key "Infrastructures", which should include "Innovation", as f.ex. in "Energy" or "Digital" areas, etc.. One such interesting project appears to be the Transport of New Gas Findings, via Liquefication, by Sea Ships, and/or by Tranforming Gas to Electricity transmissible via under Sea Cables, directly towards the EU, from the still explored recent Findings in EU Member Cyprus, as well as Egypt, Israel etc., and you have already visited recently the area, "EuroFora" reminded Hoyer. Are these included among the kind of Projects that the present New EU Investments Plan for 2015-2017 eyes ?", "EuroFora"asked the President of the EIB.

- "Yes, we (EIB) are doing a lot about such kind of things", and, in particular, the "Energy situation in Cyprus", "is a most Interesting question", President Hoyer positively reacted from the outset.

+ "And I hope that the Exploration in the area, (which continues, expands and intensifies, also with the addition of new actors among various European/International Oil/Gas Companies : F.ex. after USA's "Noble Energy", also now Italy's "ENI" and South Korea's "KOR", due to be soon followed by France's TOTAL, etc) , will be Succesful, so that a Better Supply can be guaranteed", EIB's Head went on to add.

- "Until then, many Questions are open", but "We (EIB) are Ready" to move, he confirmed.

- Already, "the President (Nicos Anasstassiades) as well as others in Cyprus, know that we are ready to Check the Investment Opportunities there".

- "Because" EU Member Country "Cyprus is a key" for EU's "Energy Security and Supplies", the experienced Hoyer stressed.

- "But", for the moment, "we don't have a (concrete and finalized) Project on the Table yet, and we are going to assess it (immediately) once we have seen it", he promised.

- Since "it is, absolutely, in the (General) Interest of Europe", and "the Strategic Location of (EU Member) Cyprus makes it very Visible", EIB's President observed, in reply to another relevant "EuroFora"s Question.

=> - That's why, "I will certainly touch upon that problem on December (2014)", when "I'll visit Cyprus, Next Month", where "I will be on my ...6th Visit !", Hoyer announced, revealing an important EU's interest in that matter.

------------------------------------

+ Meanwhile, it's also the Director of Juncker's Cabinet, Martin Selmayr, who, speaking earlier to "EuroFora", in view of a "Technical Press Point" on the New EU 2015-2017 Investments Plan at EU Commission's Offices in Strasbourg, confirmed the Fact that, indeed, Plans as that of Cyprus, Greece and Israel/Egypt to transport New Gas Findings in that area, directly towards the EU, via Liquification and Sea Ship containers, and/or via Transformation in Electricity transmissible by Under-Sea's Cable through Cyprus and Greece, etc, (as f.ex. Israeli Prime Minister Netanuahu has notoriously proposed earlier, and Greek Experts have already started to examine), was also positif, in principle :

- "Yes, that's exactly the kind of projects that we (EU Commision) are looking for", Selmayr replied to a relevant "EuroFora"s Question.

And Juncker Cabinet's Head, speaking earlier to Journalists at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora", revealed that, at least some among the First such Projects could, already be examined and eventually even endorsed by EU Countries' Heads of State/Government, during the forthcoming EU Summit of December 18-19 in Brussels, even if the final proceedings might be completed in the next 1 or 2 Months, as he said.

++ It is also significant of the Topical character of that matter, just after an exceptionaly important "Trilateral" Summit of Heads of State/Government between EU Member Countries Cyprus and Greece, as well as Egypt, (respectively : President Anastassiades, Prime Minister Samaras and President Alsissi), where Energy findings and Transports options to Europe naturaly were among the Core Strategic Issues, Cyprus' President has just anounced from New York a Rendez-vous taken also with Israeli Prime Minister Netanuahu, (who had already visited earlier Nicosia and spoken about his Idea for Gas to be transformed into Electricity, in order to be Directly Transported to the EU via a sub-Sea Cable due to link Israel/Egypt - Cyprus - Greece, etc), for another Trilateral Summit expected soon after his imminent Return back Home.

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The official presentation of a "Program" respecting People's choices voted in the June 7, 2009 EU Elections, to be debated in EU Council and EU Parliament during its 1st Session on July in Strasbourg, is the No 1 Priority, according to Democratic principles, for the Franco-German axis, said the main winners at the ballot box, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel.

They stressed that the New EU Commission's President must have a "Program" in favor of an EU which "protects" its Citizens, regulates financial markets and aims at a "Political" Europe" : a wording they have used as incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid.

They also declared ready for a "political" endorsment of "Mr. Barroso's candidacy" in June's EU Council, considering that an official decision would have to be made after EU Parliament's debates and votes, possibly from next month (July), with the legally necessary final acceptance shortly after Lisbon Treaty's entry into force, hoped for September or October.

- "A Program, and Mr. Barroso" : This resumes, in substance, the anouncements made by Sarkozy and Merkel, on the question of current EU Commission's President, Barroso's declared wish to succeed to himself for a second mandate, to be extended during the following 5 years.

In their 1st meeting after EU Elections, they observed that "the Franco-German axis counted in European Elections' campaign... But, we both keep a realistic view : We saw the number of those who abstained, and we must absolutely give them an answer. We also see the disilusionment of an important number of Europeans vis a vis Europe, and we are aware of the responsibilities we have".

- The "Duty" of the new EU Commission's President, after June 7, 2009 EU Elections' result, "is to act for a Europe which protects the Europeans, to commit himself into working for a better Regulation of Financial transactions, ... and to have a Political will for Europe", underlined Sarkozy.

Therefore, "we have asked M. Barroso... to clarify, to officialy present the intentions he has", he anounced.

- "We want to speak also about the Programme", explained Merkel.

- "It's important that for the next EU Parliament's mandate (2009-2014) we take the right Decisions for Europe. Obviously on Persons, but mainly Decisions on Issues", she stressed.

- "It's not simply a question of a Person, it's also a question of a Programme". We are "really asking Mr. Barroso to commit himself on a Program, and on Principles, on Values", Sarkozy added.

- "Barroso must present his Programme. The Czech Presidency agrees with that", Fischer reportedly said later, after meeting Sarkozy.

But Press reports from Brussels claimed that Barroso had preferred to be officially appointed by EU Council since June, (i.e. next week), "because this was implied by the current Treaty of Nice, according to him", and considered any delay until the possible ratification of the new, Lisbon Treaty on September/October, as "undemocratic".

- "At any case, independently of what Germany and France ask, it's also EU Parliament's wish". "We shall propose Mr Barroso's candidacy... But even in the framework of Nice Treaty, EU Parliament has to be associated in this Decision", the French President observed.

If this is correctly done, then "we support Mr. Barroso's candidature", and "if the (EU) Parliament agrees, we might ratify this decision since July", (i.e. next month), they both said.

- "France and Germany support Baroso's candidacy, But we want to speak also on the Program. We believe that this Program should be established in close cooperation with EU Parliament, and that's why we have followed an appropriate way", said Merkel. - If EU Parliament wants, this election can take place on July, but this must be done in full agreement.

- "We shall support Mr. Barroso's candidacy, without doubt", said Sarkozy. "But we have asked from Mr. Barroso, as I told him yesterday, to put into detail.. his intentions, at the eve of his 2nd mandate, if the situation avails itself.

France and Germany "don't want to take an Official Legal Decision by writting" during "the next (EU) Council" (on June 18-19), declared Sarkozy. Because they prefer, at this stage, only "a Political decision" on June, "so that we (EU Council) can work together with EU Parliament", which starts to meet only Next Month, since July in Srasbourg, "leaving a Legal decision by writting for later".

- "If the Conditions are fuillfiled in EU Parliament, we (EU Council) are ready to give the agreement and make it offficial", said Merkel

- "But, now we are working in the base of Nice Treaty. If tommorow we want to work in the spirit of Lisbon Treaty, we have to find a proper way", she added.

- "Of course it's Legally complicated, because we are going to make a Political proposal to the forthcoming Council, for an EU Commission's President, on the basis of Nice Treaty : So, we (EU Council) will not appoint the Commissioners. Only the President. If EU Parliament agrees, it could endorse this position on July", explained Sarkozy.

But, on Autumn, "if Ireland ratifies Lisbon Treaty, there will be, at any case, a 2nd Decision, to appoint the Commission's President, this time on the basis of Lisbon treaty, and then, we, the EU Member States, would have to appoint (also) the EU Commissioners", he added.

As for the precise Timing : - "Everything is suspended until the Irish vote... Now, we must all make everything possible to help Ireland to say "Yes"" to Lisbon Treaty... The Irish Referendum, ..will take place either on September or on October. It's a Question which depends on the Irish. And, then, we shall have the Choice of the Candidates for the permanent Institutions of Europe".

However, "if Ireland says No, we, French and Germans, have to assume our responsibilities, and we'll do so", he concluded.

But British and Swedish governments were reportedly eager to have a final EU Council decision on Barroso since this month, on June's European Council. While the other EU Member Countries are divided, several of them preferring to wait until EU Parliament pronounces itself, on July, and/or until Lisbon Treaty might be ratified by Ireland at the beginning of the Autumn. Barroso's current mandate ends on November.

There are also various, contradictory and/or unpredictable reactions inside EU Parliament vis a vis Barroso's wish to continue a 2nd mandate, because many MEPs are openly or secretly opposed, reluctant, or hesitating.

In the biggest EU Countries, as France and Germany, EU Citizens voted on June 2009 EU Elections for a renovated, non-technocratic but Political Europe which cares for its Citizens, with an Identity, Values and Borders, declared incompatible with Turkey's controversial EU bid, by mainstream, pro-European Governing Parties. Similar choices were also supported in several other small or medium EU Countries.

On the contrary, whenever, in other Countries, Governing and other mainstream Parties didn't make these choices or eluded them, EU Citizens massively voted for euro-Sceptics whenever they were the only ones to to promise anti-bureacratic change and oppose Turkey's demand to enter into the EU, (f.ex. in the UK, Netherlands, etc).

It's seems to be an Open Question whether Sarkozy and Merkel's conditions will be really accepted by Barroso, who was appointed on 2004 in a different political context, (with Socialist Prime Ministers in Germany, France, etc), had rejected in the Past the idea of EU becoming "equal to the USA" as "ridiculous", and pushed for Turkey's contoversial EU bid, trying to "soften" or contain the changes desired by the People who voted for Merkel and Sarkozy with another policy vis a vis Turkey on 2005 in Germany and on 2007 in France, as they did all over Europe on 2009.

In addition to many EPP Governments, it's 3 remaining Socialist Prime Ministers : Gordon Brown in the UK, Zapatero in Spain, and Socrates in Prortugal, who support Barroso, as well as Liberal Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt. But their Parties lost the June 2009 EU Elections.

Questioned whether there was still "Time" for "other" possible "Candidates", Sarkozy and Merkel did not deny, nor made any comment on that, but simply said that "it's not for us to make publicity for any candidates. We anounced our choice ("A Program, and Mr. Barroso"). But we respect any other candidate".

Among various other names cited are former Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstadt, former UNO's Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson of Ireland, Italian former EU Commission's vice-President Monti, etc. Meanwhile, Luxembourg's PM Juncker, (who had been unanimously accepted by EU Council for EU Commission's Presidency on 2004, but refused), announced his intention to resign from "EuroGroup"'s Chair. Thus, he might be available for another Top EU job.

* Respect People's Democratic Choices, by making EU less Technocratic, more open to EU Citizens' participation, and by rectifying 1999-2004's errors on Turkey's controversial EU bid, which blocked EU institutions in an unprecedented Crisis